Left to raise office of profit, price rise issue

New Delhi, May 9: Concerned over the rising prices of essential commodities and unabated farmers' suicide in various parts of the country, the Left parties today decided to raise the issues in a big way in the second half of the Budget Session of Parliament, beginning tomorrow.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc held at the CPI(M) headquarters, A K Gopalan Bhawan.

Briefing mediapersons on an hour-long-meeting, attended by CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and other Left party leaders, CPI veteran A B Bardhan said the Left parties would also demand that the UPA government should bring in legislation to amend the list containing the names of offices which were not to be considered as ''office of profit'' for the purpose of disqualification.

''The list may include such offices with retrospective effect,'' Mr Bardhan said adding the issues of definition of the ''office of profit'' under the constitution, the separation of legislative and executive powers and whether members of Parliament should hold non-legislative offices should be examined indepth by a special committee constituted by the Parliament.'' Its recommendations should be taken up for consideration and implementation,'' he added.

The meeting, was also attended by CPI leader D Raja, RSP leader Abani Roy and Forward Bloc General Secretary Debavrat Biswas. The Left would also raise the issues of government decision to import wheat, faulty procurement of Rabi crops among other things, Mr Raja said.

However, the final strategy will be finalised at the meeting of the Floor leaders of the Left parties tomorrow.

UNI